Cardiac arrest before surgery: Successful management of a complex post-infarction ventricular aneurysm: A case report

Abstract

Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is a mechanical complication most commonly after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The condition develops mainly after complete occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and failure to achieve timely reperfusion of the infarct-related vessel. The incidence of LVA has declined significantly in recent decades, now occurring in about 5% of patients with AMI, largely due to advances in early reperfusion strategies and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques. We present a case of a 59-year-old woman who developed a massive left ventricular aneurysm following an acute myocardial infarction of unknown duration. While awaiting urgent surgical intervention, her clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, culminating in cardiac arrest. Following successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation and return of spontaneous circulation, the patient was transferred emergently to the operating theatre for definitive surgical treatment.